2014-04-30

4.23: web.health/hormonics/female testosterone after menopause:summary:
. a woman's life extension program should include
maintenance of youthful testosterone levels .conventional view of female testosterone:

. ovaries and adrenal glands produce testosterone;
ovaries and fat tissue produce Estradiol
good for bones [ like testosterone ].
. most of estrogen after menopause is Estrone .
. low estrogen may be due to Hypogonadism .
Some findings indicate that testosterone replacement therapy
may benefit sexual function in certain
perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Testosterone replacement is unadvised in women
with breast or uterine cancer.
It also may increase the chances of cardiovascular disease
or liver disease. So, experts are
cautious about recommendations.

. testosterone plays a key role in estrogen production;
Contributes to libido;
May help maintain bone and muscle mass;
Levels peak in a woman’s 20's,
and decline slowly thereafter.
By menopause, level is at half of its peak.
Ovaries continue to make testosterone
even after estrogen production stops
Testosterone production from adrenal glands
also declines with aging
but continues after menopause .

While expensive testosterone drug patches for women
are available by prescription,
safe and inexpensive natural approaches
also can increase testosterone levels in women.
in the New England Journal of Medicine 2000:
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
examined the effects of transdermal testosterone patches
on 75 women aged 31 to 56 years who had undergone
a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy
(removal of both ovaries).
Hysterectomies, with or without an oophorectomy,
significantly decrease circulating levels of testosterone.
Over three consecutive 12-week periods,
the women were given placebo, 150-mcg testosterone patches,
or 300-mcg testosterone patches.
The unequivocal result was that women who
received 300-mcg patches
showed significant improvement in sexual function,
mood, and general well being.
. Low testosterone levels in pre- and postmenopausal women
can diminish motivation, induce fatigue,
and contribute to low libido.